Exhibited at the Paris Salon of 1850-1. The composition recalls an etching by Jacob van Ruisdael whose prints were collected by Rousseau. This is one of Rousseau's most important large landscapes, demonstrating his ambitions for his art at this stage of his career. An even larger painting, 'Lisière de forêt: soleil couchant' (Paris, Louvre) has a similar composition but shows an evening scene. The Wallace Collection's picture was much admired by Vincent van Gogh, who saw it in Sir Richard Wallace’s collection when it was exhibited at the Bethnal Green Museum during his stay in London 1873-5.